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The Tethered God
Not yet published
Expected 31 Dec 26Brann was a Warden of Ashen Light.
Now he is a deserter waiting to die.
Haunted by the blood he spilled in service to the Six, Brann has buried himself at the edge of the world, surviving on cheap ale and forgotten oaths. But when a priestess finds him—and names him by the title he abandoned—his carefully constructed grave begins to crack.
The gods are dying.
Magic is rotting at its source.
And the prison holding the Tethered God is failing.
Now he is a deserter waiting to die.
Haunted by the blood he spilled in service to the Six, Brann has buried himself at the edge of the world, surviving on cheap ale and forgotten oaths. But when a priestess finds him—and names him by the title he abandoned—his carefully constructed grave begins to crack.
The gods are dying.
Magic is rotting at its source.
And the prison holding the Tethered God is failing.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 14, 2026
I beta read this book and even in its early state I’d give it a strong 4.75.
I definitely prefer shorter books over the giant, epic doorstoppers so this one was right up my alley. Despite the low word count Noah does an incredible job of taking some of the immense, world-spanning stakes of true epic fantasy and compressing them down into a tight narrative that maintains a thriller level pace.
This book pulls no punches and does not shy away from showing you every squeamish detail. It is grimdark in the truest sense of the word. Bad things happen to good people, horrific things happen to innocent people. However; it does manage to avoid the trap that some grimdarks slip into of complete apathy. Noah sprinkles in just enough light and love and beauty to make you want to see Brann and Seren succeed against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them.
If you want to see an old (actually old) washed up soldier come out of retirement to punch bloodthirsty cultists in the face and work his way up to challenging the very gods themselves this is the book for you.
This book is a fit for people who enjoy the following games:
- God of War
- Bloodborne
- Elden Ring
- Dark Souls
Warning: if unsettlingly accurate and moist descriptions of eldritch body horror give you pause, keep a bucket nearby.
I definitely prefer shorter books over the giant, epic doorstoppers so this one was right up my alley. Despite the low word count Noah does an incredible job of taking some of the immense, world-spanning stakes of true epic fantasy and compressing them down into a tight narrative that maintains a thriller level pace.
This book pulls no punches and does not shy away from showing you every squeamish detail. It is grimdark in the truest sense of the word. Bad things happen to good people, horrific things happen to innocent people. However; it does manage to avoid the trap that some grimdarks slip into of complete apathy. Noah sprinkles in just enough light and love and beauty to make you want to see Brann and Seren succeed against the overwhelming odds arrayed against them.
If you want to see an old (actually old) washed up soldier come out of retirement to punch bloodthirsty cultists in the face and work his way up to challenging the very gods themselves this is the book for you.
This book is a fit for people who enjoy the following games:
- God of War
- Bloodborne
- Elden Ring
- Dark Souls
Warning: if unsettlingly accurate and moist descriptions of eldritch body horror give you pause, keep a bucket nearby.
April 7, 2026
I wouldn’t hold it against you if you called this a dark version of The Wheel of Time, told with more precision and concision. But I think it’s better to describe this as if Robert Jordan and Richard Swan had a book baby raised by Robin Hobb.
That is to say this book’s DNA is very much a blending of love for The Wheel of Time and The Tyranny of Faith, with elements that could have only come from a love for Hobb as well. If you have read characters like Regal Farseer or Kyle Haven and felt absolute immense insta hate for a character, you will see what I am talking about.
Also every once in awhile Brisk will hit you with a line that sounds like this:
“The sky seemed to be a boiling cauldron of gold, red, and violet. There were no birds to be seen and no wolves to be heard. Sangreal had a persistent hush like the world was waiting for instructions.“
See what I am getting at here?
Much like Richard Swan, Noah takes concepts that are SO FANTASY and weaves them with horror elements sometimes in similar ways- especially as it pertains to the ritualistic manner of certain magics here and other times in ways just in the visceral ways things get described.
As to the Wheel of Time, there are many many similarities here. Many I will not get into for spoiler reasons, its better to experience this. The FMC, Seren is reminiscent of Moraine, our MMC Brann is a former Warden, a group of people bonded to a priestess - similar to the Aes Sedai and their Warders. There are more parallels here but I will let you find them as the story unfolds.
Before you think that this is anything more- this is homage and tribute to Wheel of Time.
Pacing wise, this book moves fast and always keeps something interesting happening. The book isnt long - in talking about this with others who have read it I have called this a short book for people who love long books. The epigraphs provide a lot of really interesting lore, you get a lot of character moments and action despite this book coming in at under 400 Kindle pages.
Again, I dont want to say too much here, but Noah Brisk knows what strings to pull and can make you laugh, smile, frown and scream angrily and certainly makes you do all of those things.
That is to say this book’s DNA is very much a blending of love for The Wheel of Time and The Tyranny of Faith, with elements that could have only come from a love for Hobb as well. If you have read characters like Regal Farseer or Kyle Haven and felt absolute immense insta hate for a character, you will see what I am talking about.
Also every once in awhile Brisk will hit you with a line that sounds like this:
“The sky seemed to be a boiling cauldron of gold, red, and violet. There were no birds to be seen and no wolves to be heard. Sangreal had a persistent hush like the world was waiting for instructions.“
See what I am getting at here?
Much like Richard Swan, Noah takes concepts that are SO FANTASY and weaves them with horror elements sometimes in similar ways- especially as it pertains to the ritualistic manner of certain magics here and other times in ways just in the visceral ways things get described.
As to the Wheel of Time, there are many many similarities here. Many I will not get into for spoiler reasons, its better to experience this. The FMC, Seren is reminiscent of Moraine, our MMC Brann is a former Warden, a group of people bonded to a priestess - similar to the Aes Sedai and their Warders. There are more parallels here but I will let you find them as the story unfolds.
Before you think that this is anything more- this is homage and tribute to Wheel of Time.
Pacing wise, this book moves fast and always keeps something interesting happening. The book isnt long - in talking about this with others who have read it I have called this a short book for people who love long books. The epigraphs provide a lot of really interesting lore, you get a lot of character moments and action despite this book coming in at under 400 Kindle pages.
Again, I dont want to say too much here, but Noah Brisk knows what strings to pull and can make you laugh, smile, frown and scream angrily and certainly makes you do all of those things.
Read
March 20, 2026Beta reader, so not rating, but I will say this was fun if you like your magic systems dark and squelchy.
March 15, 2026
Brann just wants to forget. Forget his mistakes, forget oaths broken, forget her. Unfortunately for him, fate has something else in mind. The gods are dying, the Light corrupting, and he just might hold the key to saving it all.
I was fortunate enough to beta read this for Noah and it truly is an accomplishment. This is story is raw, dark, and a non-stop ride to hell and back. The first half builds our characters, the magic system, some backstory. But that second half? It’s wild. You’re going to get a relentless pace - you’re going to to get some heartstrings pulled - you’re going to get a whole lot of bloodshed and violence - and you’re going to end up asking, what’s next?
I was fortunate enough to beta read this for Noah and it truly is an accomplishment. This is story is raw, dark, and a non-stop ride to hell and back. The first half builds our characters, the magic system, some backstory. But that second half? It’s wild. You’re going to get a relentless pace - you’re going to to get some heartstrings pulled - you’re going to get a whole lot of bloodshed and violence - and you’re going to end up asking, what’s next?
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story was such a ride! I absolutely loved it.
This was a wonderful piece of accessible epic fantasy. The prose is simple enough that it gets out of the way and allows for the story to reveal itself naturally. Even in its simplicity the prose is still wonderfully engaging in that it is an incredible visual feast. You can truly smell the acrid smell of sweat, the copper tang of blood, the rot, the death.
This thorough immersion also lends to the world building of the novel, firmly placing the reader in the muddy ale swill of the village, the crunching underfoot of the snowy mountains, and in the incense filled hallways of the temple. The amount of world building that is achieved in such few pages is genuinely impressive.
The characters are what truly shine in this novel. I absolutely adore Brann, he’s such a wonderfully complex, multifaceted character. Currently reading the EOTV series and Brann is giving me Silversaint vibes, a tragic hero, desperately trying to hide after a shattering past. But he’s so much more than that, there’s a fire in Brann, a war, and yet somehow still the remains of a heart. The interactions with other characters were incredibly well thought out, with each character feeling intentional in peeling back another layer of the mystery that surrounds Brann.
I also think the unravelling of Branns’ story was handled incredibly well, at no point did it feel ‘info-dumpy’ and was genuinely engaging throughout. This slow untangle of his history thoroughly heightening the ever building tension in the novel, successfully driving the reader towards the stories precipice.
I am also very intrigued by Serens character, there are a lot of secrets there I am desperately awaiting to unfold.
I loved the magic system, I thought this was incredibly unique and I am genuinely excited to see how this develops as the series progresses. My only minor criticism is the use of ‘pull from core’ as a phrase, personally I just feel this gets a little repetitive and could be described a little different melt from time to time, for example ‘Brann felt the familiar pull of his magic’ or ‘reached into that well at his core…’ I’m sure you could write it better than me but perhaps you get the idea.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Honestly cannot wait to see what happens next, what a cliffhanger to leave me on!
This was a wonderful piece of accessible epic fantasy. The prose is simple enough that it gets out of the way and allows for the story to reveal itself naturally. Even in its simplicity the prose is still wonderfully engaging in that it is an incredible visual feast. You can truly smell the acrid smell of sweat, the copper tang of blood, the rot, the death.
This thorough immersion also lends to the world building of the novel, firmly placing the reader in the muddy ale swill of the village, the crunching underfoot of the snowy mountains, and in the incense filled hallways of the temple. The amount of world building that is achieved in such few pages is genuinely impressive.
The characters are what truly shine in this novel. I absolutely adore Brann, he’s such a wonderfully complex, multifaceted character. Currently reading the EOTV series and Brann is giving me Silversaint vibes, a tragic hero, desperately trying to hide after a shattering past. But he’s so much more than that, there’s a fire in Brann, a war, and yet somehow still the remains of a heart. The interactions with other characters were incredibly well thought out, with each character feeling intentional in peeling back another layer of the mystery that surrounds Brann.
I also think the unravelling of Branns’ story was handled incredibly well, at no point did it feel ‘info-dumpy’ and was genuinely engaging throughout. This slow untangle of his history thoroughly heightening the ever building tension in the novel, successfully driving the reader towards the stories precipice.
I am also very intrigued by Serens character, there are a lot of secrets there I am desperately awaiting to unfold.
I loved the magic system, I thought this was incredibly unique and I am genuinely excited to see how this develops as the series progresses. My only minor criticism is the use of ‘pull from core’ as a phrase, personally I just feel this gets a little repetitive and could be described a little different melt from time to time, for example ‘Brann felt the familiar pull of his magic’ or ‘reached into that well at his core…’ I’m sure you could write it better than me but perhaps you get the idea.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Honestly cannot wait to see what happens next, what a cliffhanger to leave me on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
BRO LIT
The Tethered God is action forward, gritty, and full of gore. (Think Invincible or The Boys) Scenes are crafted to get the blood pumping and have you yelling “let’s fucking gooooo!”
That being said, Brisk gives us readers plenty to ponder on and weaves in clever plot threads that can be analyzed on a deeper level if that’s your jam.
-
RELIGIOUS TRAUMA
Amidst all the running, fighting, and killing there is a heavy critique on the corruption found in organized religion. Characters are often placed in situations that have them questioning their teachings and their faith.
It feels like it is coming from a personal place, instead of your run of the mill “church bad” propaganda. There is some nuance and authenticity in the characters working through their crisis.
-
DYNAMIC DUO
Brisk provides us with probably my favorite type of duo.
1) Haggard old man who is tough as nails and seen too much in his life.
2) Ward who is working through some shit and is more sass than sense.
These two together allow for a range of compelling scenes. Action - Comedic Relief - Hard Hitting Emotion.
We do only get to scratch the surface of Seren’s character in this one, and I liked her so much I wished we would have gotten more of her. Hoping to dig into her more in any follow on books.
-
SHOW ME THE MAGIC
The magic system is an interesting blend of technical skill and divine gift that presents in the form of light. Though there are some limitation to the magic and the different magic factions, it seems like there isn’t much that a warden, mage, or priestess can’t accomplish. It makes for fun high intensity action scenes.
-
GROSS DUDE
I mentioned earlier that there was some gore. There is a body horror element to this story that is fantastically unsettling.
BRO LIT
The Tethered God is action forward, gritty, and full of gore. (Think Invincible or The Boys) Scenes are crafted to get the blood pumping and have you yelling “let’s fucking gooooo!”
That being said, Brisk gives us readers plenty to ponder on and weaves in clever plot threads that can be analyzed on a deeper level if that’s your jam.
-
RELIGIOUS TRAUMA
Amidst all the running, fighting, and killing there is a heavy critique on the corruption found in organized religion. Characters are often placed in situations that have them questioning their teachings and their faith.
It feels like it is coming from a personal place, instead of your run of the mill “church bad” propaganda. There is some nuance and authenticity in the characters working through their crisis.
-
DYNAMIC DUO
Brisk provides us with probably my favorite type of duo.
1) Haggard old man who is tough as nails and seen too much in his life.
2) Ward who is working through some shit and is more sass than sense.
These two together allow for a range of compelling scenes. Action - Comedic Relief - Hard Hitting Emotion.
We do only get to scratch the surface of Seren’s character in this one, and I liked her so much I wished we would have gotten more of her. Hoping to dig into her more in any follow on books.
-
SHOW ME THE MAGIC
The magic system is an interesting blend of technical skill and divine gift that presents in the form of light. Though there are some limitation to the magic and the different magic factions, it seems like there isn’t much that a warden, mage, or priestess can’t accomplish. It makes for fun high intensity action scenes.
-
GROSS DUDE
I mentioned earlier that there was some gore. There is a body horror element to this story that is fantastically unsettling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. What a great start to a dark and gritty fantasy world. If you are a fan of Wheel of Time, grimdark fantasies, and the horror elements of Richard Swan's latest books, The Tethered God is the book for you.
The book was fast paced, with beautiful prose, and I liked the shorter length. Even with the shorter length, the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and character development. Something I appreciated with how the author did not hold back punches. The dark scenes were DARK, gory, and bloody. But there were moments of light and emotion that shined through which helped me root for the main characters.
Brann, the main character, was flawed, damaged, and full of regret when we first meet him. Through the story, not only do we see why he is the way he is, but we see his strength and commitment, mostly because of Seren. I loved Seren. She was strong, independent, but willing to let Brann help her when needed. They found strength with each other.
Something I was not expecting in this book was the horror elements Noah sprinkled in. I found myself (several times) saying WTF. I'm not going to spoil anything but there were two horror parts that stood out to me; one was similar to Johnny Deep's death scene in The Nightmare on Elm Street and the other element was similar to the flesh wall in the upside down in Stranger Things.
Overall, this was a fun and dark read! I can't wait for more people to read Noah's book and I can't wait to read future books by him.
Add this to your TBR.
What to expect:
-Prophecies
-Cults
-Bloody, gory fight scenes
-Flawed characters
-Eldritch body horror
-Unique magic system
The book was fast paced, with beautiful prose, and I liked the shorter length. Even with the shorter length, the author did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding and character development. Something I appreciated with how the author did not hold back punches. The dark scenes were DARK, gory, and bloody. But there were moments of light and emotion that shined through which helped me root for the main characters.
Brann, the main character, was flawed, damaged, and full of regret when we first meet him. Through the story, not only do we see why he is the way he is, but we see his strength and commitment, mostly because of Seren. I loved Seren. She was strong, independent, but willing to let Brann help her when needed. They found strength with each other.
Something I was not expecting in this book was the horror elements Noah sprinkled in. I found myself (several times) saying WTF. I'm not going to spoil anything but there were two horror parts that stood out to me; one was similar to Johnny Deep's death scene in The Nightmare on Elm Street and the other element was similar to the flesh wall in the upside down in Stranger Things.
Overall, this was a fun and dark read! I can't wait for more people to read Noah's book and I can't wait to read future books by him.
Add this to your TBR.
What to expect:
-Prophecies
-Cults
-Bloody, gory fight scenes
-Flawed characters
-Eldritch body horror
-Unique magic system
Review of advance copy received from Author
:: BETA reader ::
Vibes : 🔥🥃🏹🧩🗡️⚔️🪦⚰️🚬🔮🩸
If you like gritty epic adventures with a larger political system, I think that this is the book for you!
It was definitely a wild ride that I was not expecting. The beginning of the book really hooks you into this abnormal world, and just a taste of what you’re in for. I thought the main character Brann, was extremely unique from other books that I have read. I also appreciated that he was in his 40s. I feel like I do not read a lot of books with older main characters and usually when that happens I’m pretty happy about it!
There were definitely twist and turns along the way. But this book is very heavy and gore ridden so if you are queasy, this may be a hard book to read. Personally for me, I love books with gore, so it totally didn’t bother me. 😂😅
Additionally, I feel like I don’t read a lot of books that have a heavy father/daughter relationship! So that is something I really enjoyed; seeing them grow to know each other and their relationship.
Vibes : 🔥🥃🏹🧩🗡️⚔️🪦⚰️🚬🔮🩸
If you like gritty epic adventures with a larger political system, I think that this is the book for you!
It was definitely a wild ride that I was not expecting. The beginning of the book really hooks you into this abnormal world, and just a taste of what you’re in for. I thought the main character Brann, was extremely unique from other books that I have read. I also appreciated that he was in his 40s. I feel like I do not read a lot of books with older main characters and usually when that happens I’m pretty happy about it!
There were definitely twist and turns along the way. But this book is very heavy and gore ridden so if you are queasy, this may be a hard book to read. Personally for me, I love books with gore, so it totally didn’t bother me. 😂😅
Additionally, I feel like I don’t read a lot of books that have a heavy father/daughter relationship! So that is something I really enjoyed; seeing them grow to know each other and their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dark. Gritty. Violent. A dark fantasy with an intricate magic system tied to the gods. The perfect balance of fast paced and lovely prose, nothing is superfluous, yet you feel fully immersed in the world and magic. Brann is the morally gray main character you want as he grapples with the will of the Gods, his mastery over magic and the past he’s tried to run from. This story will keep you engaged and at times terrified, in the best possible way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautifully referential, fast-paced, and crass. This book is a love letter to the fantasy genre, combining the epic mystical scale of Wheel of Time with the reluctant heroism of Empire of the Vampire. Noah did something truly special with this debut.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Look, I can’t just sit here and pretend I didn’t like this book. I can say for a first try at publishing something, it’s pretty okay.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews